Envelope opening apparatus



Dec. 8, 1970 'L. G. SIMJIAN ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR LUTHER e. SIMJIAN A AGENT.

5 Sheets-Shee t 2 Filed June 10, 1968 N m A T J m m m w s m m G R E H T U L v wl M ii on 34. L L o w Hwy 0 o J i WI m A Jh L A A O Dec. 8, 1970 L. G. SIMJIAN I ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet File d June 10, 1968 AGENT.

Dec. 8, 1970 L. e. SIMJIAN ENVELOPE OPENINQAPPARATUS S Sheets-Sheet Filed June 10, 1968 INVENTOR.

LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

Dec. 8, 1970 L. G. SIMJIAN 3,545,136

I ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS il d J 10, 1968 5Sheets-Sheet 3 LUTHER 6., SIMJIAN AGENT.

United States Patent 3,545,136 ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS Luther G. Simjian, Laurel Lane, Greenwich, Conn. 06830 Filed June 10, 1968, Ser. No. 735,888 Int. Cl. B24b 7/00, 9/00, 1/00 US. Cl. 51-3 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope opening apparatus comprises means for receiving an envelope and conveying it past two opening stations. Each opening station is provided with a set of cutting means for operating on two opposite edges of the envelope, causing opening of the envelope by an abrasive action along the four edges of the envelope. Gas flow means are provided to rigidify the envelope edge portions engaged by the cutting means.

REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS This application for US. Letters Patent is related to my co-pending application for US. Letters Patent Ser. No. 713,573 filed Mar. 18, 1968 entitled, Method for Operating on a Normally Limp Surface, Such as the Edge of an Envelope, and to application Ser. No. 740,802 filed May 23, 1968, now Patent No. 3,488,674 entitled, Apparatus for Operating on a Normally Limp Surface, Particularly on the Edge of an Envelope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention generally concerns an apparatus for opening envelopes in order that documents contained therein may be extracted and, more specifically, refers to an apparatus for opening envelopes by automatic means. Quite specifically, this invention concerns an envelope opening machine which may be used in automated systerns where a large quantity of envelopes must be opened along all its four edges in order to provide for the complete freeing of documents contained therein. To this end this invention discloses an envelope opening apparatus which is designed to multilate by an abrasive action one or more edges of an envelope and thereby remove but a minute portion of the envelope material. This arrangement is in distinction over the heretofore known knife means where a sliver-like portion of material is cut from the envelope edge and which method is not too successful when documents in the envelope are held together by paper clips or staples since such metallic appliances interfere with the shearing and cutting action commonly employed heretofore. In order to impart rigidity to the envelope edge during its engagement by the cutting devices provided hereafter, gas flow means are arranged to produce a stream of gas across the envelope edge, thereby rigidifying it, thus permitting the instant apparatus to be used also for opening relatively flexible and flimsy envelopes, as are used, for instance, for air mail purposes.

One of the principal objects of this invention is, therefore, the provision of a new and improved apparatus for opening envelopes.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for opening a large number of envelopes, the apparatus being designed for automated operation and adapted to open each envelope along a plurality of edges.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an envelope opening apparatus adapted to open an envelope along its four edges as such envelope passes through the apparatus.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an envelope opening apparatus provided with gas flow means for rigidifying the edge of the envelope While such edge is being multilated by abrasive cutting means, thereby enabling the apparatus to handle relatively flexible and flimsy air mail type envelopes.

Other and still further objects of this invention will be more clearly apparent by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire envelope opening apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the entire apparatus with the top enclosure cover of the apparatus removed;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the entire apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlargment of certain portions shown in FIG. 3, particularly the entrance and first opening station;

FIG. 5 is a setcional view along lines 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along lines 66 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of typical cutting means employed; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along lines 88 in FIG. 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS WITH REFERENCE TO FIGURE 1 A preferred embodiment of the envelope opening apparatus is shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus comprises an enclosure 12, a receiving hopper 10, a line cord 16 by which the apparatus receives electrical energy, an air connector 18 for connecting gas or air to the apparatus, and a hopper 14 which stores the opened envelopes for further processing. The apparatus is designed to receive in the hopper 10 envelopes of fairly uniform size, permitting, however, normal variations due to paper shrinkage or the quantity of documents found in a particular envelope. For instance, when processing proxy cards the envelopes are of fairly uniform size and the apparatus described hereafter is eminently suited to handle this kind of envelope. When envelopes of different sizes are received, it may be advantageous to pre-sort the envelopes according to size and provide a plurality of different opening apparatus, each designed for processing a respective size or sizes of envelopes. Such sorting may be accomplished either by manual means or by completely automatic means, and the hopper 10 of a respective envelope opening apparatus may be connected by transport means to a sorting device or to a sorting chute form which a respective size envelope is obtained. The hopper 10 is designed to hold a plurality of envelopes and includes feeding means, as will be described hereafter, for sequentially feeding on envelope at a time into the apparatus. The apparatus, in its preferred embodiment, contains two opening stations, whereby the first station is arranged to open the envelope along a first set of two opposite edges, and the second station subsequently opens the envelope along the two remaining edges, thus opening the envelope along its four edges. The opened envelope then reaches the storage hopper 14 from which further processing as is well known to those skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 2-8

Referring now to the figures and FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, the four main sections of the device are shown, which are the hopper and feeding portion 20, the first envelope opening or cutting station 22 for opening two opposite ends of the envelope, the second envelope opening or cutting station 24 for opening the remaining two opposite ends of the envelope, and a final stacking section 26.

The hopper 10 is adapted to receive and stack a plurality of envelopes 28 which are of fairly uniform size. A weight 30 is provided to compress the stack to insure proper feeding. The envelopes are supported at the bottom of the hopper by a fixed plate 32 and anoscillating picker plate 34. The oscillating picker plate is moved by the action of arm 36 pivoted at 38 in pad 40, see also FIG. 4. A crank arm 42 pivoted by a pin 44 to the arm 36 and to a crank plate 46 is adapted to cause the plate 34 to assume the forward position 48 shown by the dashed lines and to return. A step 50 on plate 34 picks and moves the lowermost envelope from the hopper and advances it through a slot 52 and into the first cutting station 22.

A pair of rollers 54 and 56 are mounted on horizontal shafts 58 and 60 respectively and connected by endless belts 62 and 64 respectively. The shafts 58 and 60 are journalled in suitable blocks fixed to the enclosure 12. An electric motor 66 connected by a belt 68 to the roller 56 causes rotation of the rollers 54 and 56 and movement of the belts so as to cause lateral movement of an envelope 70 which previously had been fed out of the hopper 10. Spherical weights 72, four in number, caged in cover plate 74 apply pressure on the envelope 70, yet allow the en velope to be stopped from further advance when the right edge of the envelope is in contact against the stop plate 76. Guides 78 and 80 keep the envelope aligned in the direction of movement.

Stationary cross members 82 and 84, FIGS. 4 and 5, supported by the enclosure 12 carry horizontal shafts 86 and 88. Shaft 88, which is powered by belt 90 and pulley 92 from motor 94, has gears 96 and 98 affixed thereupon at opposite ends.

Shaft 86 which is rotated by a motor 100 via belt 102 and pulley 104 is journalled in the cross members 82 and 84, and has a pulley 106 pinned at its right end, FIG. 4. Freely mounted on opposite ends of the shaft 86 are gear and hub combinations 108 and 110. Attached to hub 110 is the stop plate 76 and an arm 122a which carries a cutting means, such as an abrasive wheel 114, see FIG. 8. The wheel 114 is freely mounted and rotated at relatively high speed by belt 116 and pulley 118. In a like manner, hub 108 has mounted on it stop plate 120, an arm 122 Which supports a similar cutting wheel 124, driven by belt 126 and pulley 128. Both cutting wheels 114 and 124 are driven, therefore, by motor 100.

The left end of shaft 86, FIG. 4, carrying pulley 130 is splined and pulley 130, while positively rotated, can move a limited amount in an axial direction. The pulley is biased toward the right by a helical compression spring 132 nested at one end in support 134.

Located on cross member 82 is a protrusion 136, FIG. 4, and on gear 108 is another protrusion 138. As hub and gear assembly 108 rotates, the entire assembly comprising the stop plate 120, the cutting wheel 124, and the hub and gear assembly 108 is caused responsive to the shape of the protrusions 136 and 138 to undergo a shuttling motion, once per each revolution. Cutting wheels 114 and 124 are adjusted so that they protrude slightly inward beyond the plane of the associated stop plates. As seen in FIG. 5, the stop plate 76 is an arcuate plate with the cutting wheel 114 inset in it. Stop plate 120 and cutting wheel 124 at the inlet side, adjacent to the hopper and feed section 120, are similarly constructed.

Motor 94 delivers rotation to the envelope feeding mechanism previously described through shaft 140 and belt 142. Disposed above the first station 22 is a gas delivery system. The system includes a plenum chamber 144 and two distributing pipes which are flared to spread the flow of gas over the exposed envelope edge portions as shown at 146. The flow of gas, such as air, imparts rigidity to a normally flexible and limp envelope edge while such edge is operated upon by a cutting wheel. The flared pipe sections pass through the plate 74 at suitable openings in order to be close to the edge of the envelope 70, thus imparting rigidity as the cutting wheels 114 and 124 move past the edge and remove a small amount of. envelope material by an abrading action. This removal of envelope material opens the envelope and, as is apparent from the constructionof the station 22, two opposite edges of the envelope are opened substantially simultaneously.

The second envelope cutting station 24 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) is equipped with a similar drive as the first station 22. However, while in the first cutting station the envelope is held stationary and the rotating cutting wheels are drawn along the two envelope edges, in the second cutting station the cutting wheels rotate about fixed axes and the envelope passes past the cutting Wheels.

Rollers 148 and 150 mounted on shafts 152 and 154 respectively are connected by belts 156 and 158. Roller 150 is driven by motor 160 and belt 162. Weighted balls 164 hold the envelope in engagement with the belts 156 and 158 for positive movement, thus causing the envelope to be drawn through this station. Motor 16 is provided with a gear reduction unit 166 which provides a slow speed output apparent on pulley 168. The other end of motor 160 carries gear 170 and produces a high speed output. Gear 170 meshes with a gear 172 which, in turn, is mounted upon shaft 174.The shaft 174 is journalled in blocks 176 and 178 which are fastened to enclosure 12. Mounted on shaft 174 are pulleys 180 and 182 which are connected to pulleys 184 and 186 by respective belts 188 and 190. The pulleys 184 and 186 are mounted on shafts 192 and 194 respectively and these shafts carry cutting wheels 196 and 198 for opening the envelope alon the remaining two edges as the envelope is moved by belts 156 and 158 past these cutting wheels.

As shown in FIG. 2 guides 200 and 202 are fixed while the guide 204 floats on springs 206 and 208. The guide 204 also engages the cutting wheel 196 on the wheel hub and, as the guide adjusts itself to slight dilferences in envelope width, it aligns the cutting wheel 196 on the envelope edge. Both cutting wheels 196 and 198 are spaced slightly inward from the guides so that an equal but accurate amount of envelope material is removed from both oppositely disposed envelope edges.

Above the cutting station 24 there is disposed an air plenum which distributes air through the guides 210 so that air is directed above the envelope along one side toward the edges engaged by the cutting wheels 196 and 198. Since the cutting wheel position is fixed, the air guides are less spread.

The final stage 26 which receives the opened envelope and documents comprises a receptacle 14 and a horizontal platform 212 held in position by spring 214. The spring 214 is constructed so that its rate of descent is equal to the amount of documents deposited, thus causing the up per level of documents to remain essentially constant.

CONSTRUCTION OF CUTTING MEANS The preferred construction of the cutting means 114, 124, 196 and 198 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each cutting wheel is a spoked metal wheel with an extended rim coated with an abrasive material or, alternatively, notched to provide cutting edges. The rim 216 is joined to hub 218 by a plurality of spokes 220. The forward rim side 222 is the portion which accomplishes the cutting or material removal from the envelope edge. Cutting wheels 114 and 124 used at the first station 22 are provided with a pulley for receiving the rotational motion. The spokes 220 are angled to form fan blades when the wheel rotates. This fan action facilitates the flow of air, drawing the discharged air from the respective air distributor over the envelope side and edge during cutting, thus maintaining the envelope edge rigidified.

SUMMARY OF SEQUENCE OF OPERATION The sequence of events taken in conjunction with the foregoing description of components is as follows: An envelope is withdrawn from the bottom hopper 20 by picker plate 34 and delivered to the first cutting station 22. The timing of the apparatus is such that an envelope can pass past the left rotating stop plate 120 but is stopped by the stop plate 76 on the right edge. As hubs 108 and 110 rotate being driven by motor 94, rotating cutting wheels 114 and 124 are drawn along two opposite envelope edges and remove a small sliver portion of the envelope material along these edges. The cutters align themselves to the envelope dimension by virtue of the shuttling action described and effected by the cutter 124. The envelope is aligned also by the guides 78 and 80 and is steadied in place by virtue that two opposite edges are operated upon simultaneously.

As the stop plate 76 clears the envelope, the envelope is permitted to move laterally into and through the second cutting station 24. Here guide 204 aligns the envelope relative to the cutters 196 and 198. As the envelope moves through the station and past the cutters, the rotating wheels remove material from the remaining two edges, thus completing the opening operation.

When the completely opened envelope clears the second station 24, the envelope and documents are deposited in the receiving hopper 26 for further processing.

It will be seen that the above apparatus opens an envelope along its four sides and carries out this process in a fully automated manner. In view of the fact that material is removed from the edge in a consecutive fashion and since the cutting means are mounted for limited lateral motion relative to the envelope edge, the apparatus is capable of opening envelopes despite the presence of paper clips or pins used for fastening documents together, which appliances normally interfere with the proper operation of mail opening machines.

I claim: 1. An envelope opening apparatus comprising: cutting means disposed for engaging at least one edge of an envelope and removing by abrading envelope material along such edge, whereby to open the envelope along such edge, and gas flow means disposed for providing a flow of gas across the envelope portion engaged by said cutting means for imparting rigidity to said edge while it is engaged by said cutting means. 2. An envelope opening apparatus comprising: means for receiving an envelope; opening means disposed for receiving an envelope from said receiving means and including:

abrading means disposed for engaging at least one edge of the envelope received and causing the removal of envelope material along such edge, whereby to open the envelope along such edge; means for providing alignment between the received envelope and said abrading means, and gas flow means disposed for providing a flow of gas across the envelope edge engaged by said abrading means for imparting rigidity to said edge while it is engaged by said abrading means. 3. An envelope opening apparatus comprising: means for receiving and stacking envelopes to be opened; means for sequentially conveying envelopes from said receiving means to an envelope opening means; said opening means including:

means for providing alignment between the received envelope'and cutting means; cutting means for engaging at least one edge of the envelope received and causing by abrading the removal of envelope material along such edge, whereby to open the envelope along such edge; gas flow means providing a flow of gas across the envelope edge engaged by said cutting means for imparting rigidity to said edge while it is engaged by said cutting means, and means disposed for receiving the opened envelope and contents therein from said opening means after said one edge has been engaged by said cutting means. 4. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and including means for providing relative motion between said cutting means and said envelope.

5. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said means for providing relative motion causing said cutting means to move relative to said envelope.

6. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 4, said means for providing relative motion causing said envelope to move relative to said cutting means.

7. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said cutting means being apertured for providing for the passage of gas therethrough.

8. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said gas flow means being arranged to provide for the flow of gas along the envelope side, across said envelope edge, and at least partially through said cutting means when said cutting means engages said edge.

9. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said cutting means comprising a rotating wheel and being coupled to driving means for causing rotation of said wheel relative to said envelope edge.

10. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 9, said cutting means being mounted on a rotating arm, and means causing said arm to move said cutting means along said envelope edge.

11. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said cutting means arranged to operate on two envelope edges.

12. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 11, said cutting means arranged to cause the simultaneous removal of envelope material along two envelope edges which are disposed on opposite sides.

13. An envelope opening apparatus a sset forth in claim 3, said opening means including a first set of cutting means for engaging two opposite edges of an envelope, and a second set of cutting means for engaging the remaining two opposite edges of said envelope, whereby to open the envelope along its four edges.

14. An envelope opening apparatus comprising:

rotating cutting means disposed for engaging at least one edge of an envelope;

means coupled for providing relative motion between said cutting means and the envelope for causing said cutting means to engage consecutive portions of the envelope along such edge, whereby to remove envelope material and open the envelope along such edge, and

gas flow means disposed for providing flow of gas across the envelope portion engaged by said cutting means for imparting rigidity to said edge while it is engaged by said cutting means.

15. An envelope opening apparatus as set forth in claim 14, said cutting means being apertured for providing for the passage of gas therethrough.

16. An envelope opening apparatus comprising:

means for feeding an envelope into a first opening station;

means for temporarily retaining the fed envelope at said first station and for aligning the envelope relative to a cutting means;

a first pair of rotating cutting means disposed at said first station;

means for guiding said first pair of cutting means in engagement with and along two opposite edges of the envelope whereby to cause removal of envelope material from said edges and opening of the envelope;

means subsequently feeding the envelope out of said first station and through a second opening station;

a second pair of rotating cutting means disposed at said second station and positioned to engage the two previously unopened edges of the envelope as the envelope is fed through said station, whereby to cause removal of envelope material from said last-stated edges and complete opening of the envelope;

means coupled for driving said first and second cutting means, and gas flow means disposed at said first and said second stations for flowing gas across the envelope edges when engaged by said cutting means for rigidifying the engaged edges. 17. The method of opening an envelope comprising the steps of supporting the envelope, leaving an edge portion exposed for being engaged cutting means; providing a stream of gas across such edge portion to rigidify said edge, and bringing consecutive portions of said edge portion into engagement with a rotating cutting means for removing engaged envelope material by frictional contact therewith, whereby to open the envelope along such edge. 18. The method of opening an envelope as set forth in claim 17, and leaving two edge portions exposed, providing a stream of gas across such two edge portions, and bringing consecutive portions of each respective edge portion into engagement with respective rotating cutting means for opening substantially simultaneously two edges of the envelope.

19. The method of opening an envelope as set forth in claim 18, and sequentially removing material from a first set of two edges and then from a second set of edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1970 Simjian 512l7 6/1957 Frankiewicz et a1. 51327X JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner 

